To Sabah we Go..

Finally, here is the post of the Sabah trip we made from 31st June to 4th July. This is a really late posting though, a month late. My apologies for that as the line here is really slow for uploading the pictures onto Photobucket.

This trip was really a happening one. Originally we had 6 people in the team but unexpected events then crop up, leaving only 4 of us to continue the challenge to Sabah and Mt. Kinabalu. Well, not to mention what happened here, but, there will be a return to once again challenge Mt. Kinabalu. So, book me in for your next trip!..If any of you plan to go though...

A summary of the activities in Sabah, though its a short trip.
i) Bak Kut Teh
ii) Climbing Mt. Kinabalu
iii) Island Hopping to Manukan and Sapi Island
iv) Jet Skiing
v) Finishing RM400+ in one hour time for dinner!..

As for the rest, I guess pictures will best speaks.
(Some pictures are not taken by me, its by Jia Yiing), accidentally watermarked it. Sorry


Arrival at Kota Kinabalu Airport



My bed for the first night at Trekker's Lodge


Touring around the city, guided by our guide Arden.



Very nice Bak Kut Teh



Trekker's Lodge, our first night staying place. Very decent though, for only a rate of RM19.80 per pax/night including breakfast.



Early morning preparing for the journey to Kinabalu Park


Arriving at Kinabalu Park around 8.00 a.m. It took us around 2 hours to travel from KK to the Park and cost RM150 single way. Expensive rite? I'll drive next time. I thought it wasnt cold, see me in the shorts and T-Shirt? Freaking cold there..!



Trail of the trek of Mt. Kinabalu


Jia Yiing with Josephine, our climb co-ordinator. Wouldn't have been able to come without her arrangement.



4 of us, just before leaving to Mesilau entrance to start the climb


On the way to Mesilau gate. Those houses at the foothills looks so much like Tibetan Highland in China


Mesilau Resort site plan


Shean Tyng's Godfather, met him before going up, at Laban Rata, on the way down, while having lunch after descend AND in KK! He's cute!



A picture with our porter just before the hike.


That's me! Taken by Jia Yiing



Our Lunch pack, with another can of 100Plus and a bottle of mineral water missing.


Nice hanging bridge only Mesilau trail offers.


Waterfalls of such are along Mesilau trail


Our super Porter and me...


Trail we climbed...Everyone looks pretty tired..with the steps!..


Lunch Break...



Chocolate from Hui Ming...



Finally, we reached Laban Rata!...after a tiring climb of 7 hours of climb!! Feel the cold?


Temperature upon arrival at Laban Rata Lodge...


The tiring look of everyone of us upon reaching Laban Rata restaurant..Still early so have to wait for check in...into the lodge.. Below: Jia Yiing

Me...

Arden, hiding his face..

Shean Tyng...



Before this, dinner...Its really very delicious, especially the black pepper lamb..!Lazy to upload the pics..sorry...but Arden and Shean Tyng ate like mad...

After bathe, preparing to go for picture taking session...Dirty and wet shoes?


We made it...! to 11,000feet..not the summit yet though..


We are in Heaven...clouds are below us..


What are we doing?


Caught red handed... U got 'road' with Shean Tyng ar Arden? Have share also? ...


Where is Jia Yiing?


Jia Yiing and Shean Tyng...nice pose?


Opps..underexposed..Tat guy is Christoph...A German guy who really we met him few times around...from Kinabalu Park to Kinabalu town...


Jia Yiing took this shot..


Finished with the photoshooting session, we went back to the Lodge around 6.45p.m. when it gets dark and colder...Slept around 7 but all of us cant sleep...The heater was turned on itself around 8p.m. and it was really BBQing us all...until we turned it off..end up we were all taking off our jackets, gloves and socks that we wore before we went to sleep..

Had a roommate from Australia..A lone climber.. a nice and polite guy...

Guess I slept around 12 something..it was on and off before that...Woke up by 1.15 and prepared for the climb..the last climb to the summit. Prepared ourselves..Packed our things and went down for breakfast. We all thought it was included in our package so we ate. Who knows it isnt. Costs us RM15 per person for the breakfast. But I guess its worth it to have a filling breakfast before we start our climb so that we wont be lack of energy.
Prepared ourselves for the climb and we walked towards the gate. I was the first one to open the gate though!..

That's the temperature at 2.00a.m., just before our climb.


I cant even afford to take out my camera to shoot due to the total darkness and also both of my hands is occupied with a raincoat and also my tripod and the need to hold on to the ropes.

The first sunrise picture I shot!..Just at first light, though I was only a few meters away from the summit. The summit was packed with climbers, so would rather take a nice shot of first light at a better spot.



While waiting for Jia Yiing


Nice sunrise?


Jia Yiing


Me and my bro Arden


Arden and his ehem...


Dark Rider?


Yeah...! Finally we are at the summit, with the prove of it, the signboard!


We began our descend around 6.25a.m. when the summit gets crowded with people wanting to take pictures with the signboard. Took quite a number of pictures during descend.

Ropes we climbed up with.








Slow and steady..


Steep rite?..


You're gone once u slip..




Long long journey up and then now down..






Kilometer 8.0


We are exhausted..!






Very steep slope down..something like abseiling..


Finally we are back down to the Park...Look at everyone's exhausted face..Me and Arden are wet just because we refused to use raincoat..


Finally, a good lunch and also we were awarded with our certificates. 2 of them, one for the summit climb, another for using Mesilau trail.Sorry I didnt manage to take the picture of the cert closed up before I left to Perth. Can anyone take and send it to me?


We were totally exhausted after the descend. All of us slept in the cab on the way down to Kinabalu. Imagine us not changing after the climb. I was in wet clothing but it dried up by the time I reached Kota Kinabalu. Checked in Ang's Hotel.

We began washing our shoes inside the hotel bathroom and the smell of wet and smelly clothing is really 'awesome'!! It clogged the room.. We then went for dinner at KFC which I don remember the name of the place. On the way, we met Shean Tyng's godfather and also Christoph again!..what a coincidence.! Then, movie time!...We watched movie right after dinner. How energetic we are? even myself dont really believe what we did.

Next day, Island hopping trip. We went to Manukan and Sapi Island. For this, pictures speaks the best.

A view at Jesselton Point, one of the historic place.


Manukan and Manutik Island from the sea.


I forgot what island is that though. But its nice..!


One scoop, and the whole net will be full of fish. This is at Sapi Island.




Why her face so cham?


Shell advertisement?


In the boat to Island




3 of us.


Looking at birds?


I was caught sleeping at Sapi Island




Playing with my camera huh?


We then took the boat to Manukan Island.



WW2 Bomb shells recovered.


After walking around, we decided to go for the jet skiing! End up me and Shean Tyng flew off the jet ski and end up in the water. Was laughing away in the sea water.! hahaz...Drive so fast lar..!





Chased by me and Shean Tyng


Exhausted Arden after the jet ski.

The guy came to our rescue after the both of us flew into the waters.


Went snorkelling around Manukan Island after we got back from the jet ski. Too bad the place is kinda polluted and the reefs are not as beautiful as we all expected.


Manukan Island


After one whole day of unbelievable things we did around those islands, we went back to our hotel around 5p.m. in the last boat. And, it was again a racing boat!..we overtook everyone who was ahead of us, heading back to Jesselton Point in full speed.

Bathe and cleaned up. Shean Tyng even took 2 panadol cause she was giddy. Giddy as a result of being flung around during the jet ski and in the end, flung into the waters i guess.

It was still early for dinner so we toured around town. Got a nice sunset view. Wonderful reddish sky rite?






Next, our most exciting part..! the wonderful part of the whole trip.! We went to a well known seafood restaurant in town and start ordering food..

Behold, the food..!



Tiger prawns!


Finished food plates.!


Why was it the most interesting part? Tiger prawns, prawns, '7 star spot' fish, vege. 4 dishes + drink cost us RM101.00 per pax!...awesome rite? but the taste is really damm delicious.. Saliva dripping..no words can describe that feeling. We called it heavenly dinner.!

After dinner, walked around and we decided to go for movie again!...this time, Hancock premier.! damm...I cant believe how energetic we are..!

Went back around 12am that night after dropping by the night market, dominated by Philiphines...selling all sorts of food by all sorts of people, from kids to old grannies..Well, this shows how tough life is.

Went back to Ang's hotel, and we slept the whole night. The 2 girls went out doing last minute shopping while me and Arden slept until around 1030hrs.

Had Bak Kut Teh again before we went to the airport.

One last picture outside Ang's Hotel, taken by our taxi driver to the airport.


Trekker's Lodge,the place we stayed for the first night, just opposite Ang's Hotel.


Checking in our baggages at Kinabalu airport.


Too bad Jia Yiing have to fly alone. Nothing can be done after asking around for a flight change.

That's about it for our exciting yet unforgettable Sabah Trip.
Well, it is really a memorable trip for the 4 of us who went together, did all the crazy things together and challenged the mountain together without us realizing that we have already done it. Memories will always be there and although it has been a month ago's story, it's like still fresh in my mind and it's like yesterday's happening.

Its only with close friends that we can such an unforgettable experience. Thank you buddies..!and also a big thanks to my family for all the support towards making this trip a possible one. Looking forward for the next trip around again with you guys..Take good care of yourself buddies..